Category Archives: culture

It has been a slow start back to work after the craziness of Advent and the first eleven days of the Christmas season. Today I found myself a tad overwhelmed by an overflowing desk, some tedious demands, and, oh yeah, another Sunday approaching! My mind floated from idea to idea as I deleted emails, updated the to-do list, and reviewed the 2012 preliminary budget report (it was a good year Pioneer!). And, like many of my colleagues, I found myself wondering (and worrying?) about the 2013 budget that will be finalized this month.

Then I drove home. My wonderings continued…

On ScienceFriday, they were discussing how Kickstarter (a crowd sourced funding platform) brought about a number of scientific projects this past year.

Lately I’ve been joking (maybe?) that faith communities should start their own version of Kickstarter for their ministry projects. But then, who would fund the toilet paper?

Seriously.

I don’t think I’m all that off track. We do our own version of Kickstarter already in ways small and large. Yesterday I read a thread on Facebook about great fundraising ideas for youth groups as they get ready for next Summer’s trips.

When I arrived home I caught up on some reading and learned that “America’s wealthiest gave less in 2012.”

No surprise with that news either but it makes me wonder. I’ve long pushed the notion that our giving should not be dependent on what we get out of it…that stewardship is a response to what God has given to us – “all that we are and all that we have belongs to God.” I’ve preached this message more times than I can count but our life together is changing – as much as I don’t want to admit it. I think we do need to think creatively about our giving – and our asking. More than anything, I want folks to give and not think that I am nagging them! Until then, here is what I’m pondering…

What if…

folks understood that it is really hard to budget for an organization when you don’t know what is going to come in! Too often the folks that say we should budget on faith are the same folks that give according to how well their own needs are met (and are happy to tell me about it!)

What an interesting mingling of news items today: The 111th Congress began with the reading of The U.S. Constitution and the decision of a publisher to offer a new edition of Huckleberry Finn with the elimination of two particular words. As I listened to the news this morning I was struck by the similarities these discussions have with the conversation that happens around the interpretation of scripture.

It is easy to toss around accusations of who holds the truth when it comes to interpreting written words in whatever context we find them. As much as we’d like to say “The Bible says…” or “The Constitution says…” or even “Mark Twain meant” words must be interpreted and it depends on our perspective. Where are you standing and what do you see when you see this picture?

I know there are many who hold that the words speak for themselves but I honestly, and I hope, humbly, don’t know how that can be. I’m not a constitutional scholar (duh!) but there is a reason we have judges and courts to help us apply the words of the Constitution. I’m not an English major either, but the arguments around changing the language in Huck Finn have to do with the act of interpretation, right?

And whenever we read the Bible, we interpret. I’m reminded of the work of Shirley Guthrie, a wonderful theologian and dear mentor who died a few years. One of the many gifts he left was an explication of the rules of interpretation from his work Christian Doctrine. He would joke that he only intended this work to be an adult education curriculum. I don’t think it will help us with the Constitution or even Huck Finn, but for those of you who claim faith in Jesus Christ I offer these to you as a gift from Shirley. Oh, and go order his book, too.

Scripture is to be interpreted in light of its own purpose. “We read the Bible rightly when we read it to learn who God is and how we may live faithfully in the presence of God.” Guthrie

Scripture interprets itself. “This rule also means that we must listen to the total witness of scripture, not just to selected passages that support what we already think or want to hear.” Guthrie

The Christological principle. “When we encounter apparent tensions and conflicts in what Scripture teaches us to believe and do, the final appeal must be to the authority of Christ.” Declaration of Faith

The rule of faith. “We interpret scripture rightly when we do not try to interpret it by ourselves, as if we were the first ever to ask what it means.” Guthrie

The rule of love. “All right interpretations reflect the love of God and the love of God’s people for all kinds of people everywhere, everyone included and no one excluded.” Guthrie

The study of scripture in its historical and literary context. It is important to interpret scripture “from the nature and language in which they were written, likewise according to the circumstances in which they were set down.” Second Helvetic Confession, ch. 2

There is much more to be said and discussed but this is a beginning. I highly recommend reading Adam Copeland’s post over at A Wee Blether.

Hard to believe we are beginning year number 5 in Cleveland. I came across a great blog recently that every one of you million readers should check out as soon as you are done reading another scintillating post from me. I initially started the list below for a friend who was considering a move to CLE but didn’t need to convince them so it has sat for a while. Without further ado…

West Side Market – even if you aren’t planning on stocking your cupboards, a stop here will delight your senses. The architecture is stunning; the food options amazing (seriously, when was the last time you saw pig knuckles?); the sweets and breads and spices and fruits and vegetables… I’m ready for another trip!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center – touristy, yep. Fun, indeed. Worth your money and time, of course. Our daughter has loved R&R since she moved here and the Science Center is a fun adventure for kids and it now includes the NASA Glenn Visitor Center.

One of my favorite stories is by Walter Wangerin called Edification or Demolition. It is about building up others rather than tearing down. It is a powerful story. This cartoon sums it up everso powerfully:

Here is a quiz. What is the date of Easter 2011? All I know at this point is that it is very late next year, which will really mess up our May calendar at the church. Sigh.

Here is another quiz. If you are hoping to identify the release date of a major motion picture what would you use as a marker? A season of the calendar year? Sure – “Coming – Spring 2010!)

Yesterday, K2 and I ventured to the neighborhood theater to watch Shrek – The Final Chapter and one of the many previews was for a movie called Rio – it looks cute and I imagine we’ll end up seeing it

a nerdy macaw who leaves the comforts of his cage in small town Minnesota and heads to Rio de Janeiro. He embarks on the adventure of a lifetime, learning to open himself up to all that life has to offer along the way.

But here is what surprised me. After the funny scenes and requisite emotional clip came the dark screen with the release date. Easter 2011. I think I would get it if it was going to be released on December 25th, 2010 – Christmas is a set date. But Easter? Unless you are a church nerd you probably don’t know how the Easter date is even set!*

Then I started thinking about my neighbors, our friends at Kol Chadash, and the non-Christians down the street… Easter 2011? We know the influence of the Christian Church is waning (or has simply waned!) but somehow 20th Century/Fox hasn’t heard that news. I’d love to know if this advertising was intentional or an oversight. It would make complete sense if this was a “Christian” movie but I don’t think it is (or don’t recall any mention of nerdy macaws in the Bible).

To some degree, it is offensive to those who don’t mark Easter. For others it doesn’t help them remember when the movie will even be released. Although I suppose when the ads come out with the floppy eared bunny wearing pastel colors it might trigger the memory of this movie preview – don’t get me started on how the dang bunny is NOT a symbol of Easter!

And it waters down my faith. I’m weary of my faith traditions being usurped. I’m quite happy to be living in a post-Constantinian world. Maybe it is my Southern California upbringing that dealt with the cultural “death” of the church earlier than any other part of the country I’ve lived in. I’m happy that most store clerks don’t wish me Merry Christmas when I shop during the month of December. I don’t need K2 singing the songs of our faith at public school. I want folks to make a concerted effort to live their faith not fall into it through the Ten Commandments posted on the walls of the town courthouse or even, God forbid, confusing the worship of God with the worship of one’s own country.

And in case you are curious, yes, this means I won’t be wearing a red, white and blue stole this Sunday.

*the first Sunday after the paschal full moon (or the vernal equinox).